She was twice world champion in women's double sculls with Philippa Baker, and they were both inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

She received her education at Nayland College and lived in Nelson until age 17, when she left to progress her rowing career.

[3] Lawson and Baker then went on to become double sculls world champions twice in a row, first in 1993 in Račice, Czech Republic,[4] and then in 1994 in Indianapolis, USA.

[7] In 2012, Baker and Lawson were inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, the first woman rowers to achieve this accolade.

[8] The Sports Hall of Fame citation reads: It was undoubtedly the dogged determination of Philippa Baker, and later Baker and Brenda Lawson, that set the benchmark, along with the coach they sought out in Wanganui, Richard Tonks, that cemented the arrival and force to be reckoned with—New Zealand women's rowing—as we see it today.